Lean Hog Futures Mixed

October lean hogs are trading at 55.17, up 0.02 cents /lb. December lean hogs are trading at 49.22, down 0.22 cents/lb. February lean hogs are trading at 53.55, down 0.30 cents/lb. Lean hog futures are trading steady to lower. Market chatter that retail demand for National Pork Month in October is starting to wane. U.S. pork production for the week ending September 3rd was 469.9 million pounds versus 469.5 million pounds the previous week and up 3.46 percent from a year ago. Thursday's USDA estimated hog slaughter was 437,000 head. The total for the week is 1.744 million head versus 1.721 million a year ago. The street estimate for Saturday's slaughter is around 200,000 head. Trading is expected to be very choppy with possible wide ranges on both sides of unchanged .